Edward Dmytryk

Director, Producer, Editor

As one of classic Hollywood's more prominent directors, Edward Dmytryk appeared primed for greatness following a string of successful movies in the 1940s, until he was blacklisted as one of the infamous Hollywood Ten ... Read more »

As one of classic Hollywood's more prominent directors, Edward Dmytryk appeared primed for greatness following a string of successful movies in the 1940s, until he was blacklisted as one of the infamous Hollywood Ten following his refusal to name names to Congress during the Red Scare. Dmytryk started his filmmaking career as an editor and segued to directing by taking over production of "Million Dollar Legs" (1939). That led to a series of B-movies like "Golden Gloves" (1940) and "The Devil Command" (1941), until finally making the excellent film noir "Murder, My Sweet" (1944). From there, he entered his fruitful period with "Back to Bataan" (1945), Till the End of Time" (1946) and "So Well Remembered" (1947), before helming the politically-charged noir classic, "Crossfire" (1947). It was then that Dmytryk ran afoul of the House Un-American Activities Committee, leading to his blacklisting from Hollywood and a brief stint in jail after his return from exile in England. With the help of producer Stanley Kramer, Dmytryk revitalized his career with "The Caine Mutiny" (1954) and went on to make a number of quality films like "Broken Lance" (1954), "The End of the Affair" (1955), "Raintree Country" (1957) and "The Young Lions" (1958). Though his career sputtered in the following decade, Dmytryk managed to direct a few more hits and became one of the few blacklisted filmmakers to mount a bona fide comeback.

Hollywood High School

California Institute of Technology

Last feature film appearance, "50 Years of Action!", a salute to the Directors Guild of America

1979

Published autobiography "It's a Hell of a Life But Not a Bad Living"

1976

Appeared as one of the interviewees in the feature documentary, "Hollywood on Trial"

1976

Directed last feature, "He Is My Brother"

1966

Last US film for ten years, "Alvarez Kelly"; over the following decade made a handful of films in Great Britain and Italy

1956

First producing credit, "The Mountain", which he also directed

1952

Signed by producer Stanley Kramer to a four-picture contract

1952

Directed first US films in five years, "The Sniper" and "Mutiny", the latter also his first film in color

1951

Testified before HUAC in April and "named names"

1950

Returned to US to renew his passport; jailed for contempt of Congress; served six months

1949

Began directing films in UK

1947

Fired from RKO when Dmytryk was named before the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC); Dmytryk was cited for contempt of Congress when he refused to testify and became one of the blacklisted "Hollywood Ten"